Free-standing table device

ABSTRACT

Free-standing table device wherein the table top ( 1 ) arranged in the horizontal plane, is double-hingedly connected to a frame ( 4 ) which is arranged to stand, possibly on wheels ( 5 ), on an underlying base.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is the U.S. national stage application ofInternational Application PCT/NO01/0000269, filed Jun. 25, 2001, whichinternational application was published on Jan. 24, 2002 asInternational Publication WO 02/05683, The International Applicationclaims priority of Norwegian Patent Application 20003338, filed June 27,2000.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a table revolvably arranged about two or morevertical axes.

Revolving tables, the purpose of which is to move the table top betweenseveral different positions relative to the table base, are not known inthe art. Wall mounted and double-hinged shelves, particularly thoseemployed as holders for computer monitors and television sets, are,however, known in the art. Within a relevant area of application, e.g.the use of computer equipment, wheeled tables and wheeled racks are usedbesides stationary tables. One disadvantage of wheeled tables consistsin the table top not being easily swung out and over, for example, anarmchair, this being due to the base frame of the table colliding withthe base of the chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to remedy the negative sides of priorart.

In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved by means ofthe features disclosed in the following description and in thesubsequent patent claims.

A table top is connected to a base via a telescopic and revolvable foot.The base is revolvably attached to an underlying frame/wheel frame whichmay be provided with castors of the type used in, for example, officechairs. The foot is attached to the table top proximate one table topedge, and eccentrically to the base relative to the pivot axis of thebase. Relative to the anchoring point of the foot, a balance weight isplaced on the diametrically opposite side of the base.

The table design comprising a possible wheel-independent revolvablebase, a foot-positioning proximate to the edge of the base and the tabletop, and also comprising a revolveable foot, allows for easy andsubstantially liberal swinging of the table top between any positionwithin its reach, whether being centred over the base or extending outand over, for example, an armchair. An air spring as known per se beingmounted between the table top and the base, is arranged to lock thetelescopic function of the foot and to balance out any table load duringthe lifting and lowering of the table top.

The main parts of the table comprising a table top, a foot and a base,may be provided with openings for the feed-through of, for example, anelectrical equipment cable. A locking device which limits the rotationangle of the table, prevents a potential cable from twisting.Advantageously, potential table wheels may be provided with brakes, thusrendering the table stable on the floor during movement of the tablecomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, a non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is described, which embodiment is illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 displays in perspective the table in a pulled-in position;

FIG. 2 displays in perspective the table in a pulled-out position; and

FIG. 3 displays a vertical section through the table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

On the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a table top whichproximate its one end portion is connected to a base 2 via a telescopicfoot 3. In a preferred embodiment, the base 2 is circular, but it mayalso exhibit a different external geometry. The telescopic foot 3comprises an outer tube 31, an inner telescopic tube 32, a telescopicbearing 33 and a lever-controlled air spring 34 as known per se. Theouter tube 31, which is fixedly connected to the support frame 21 of thebase 2, is in its upper end portion fixedly connected to the telescopicbearing 33, while the telescopic tube 32, which is fixedly connected tothe table top 1, is movably arranged within the telescopic bearing 33.The air spring is concentrically placed relative to the foot 3, and itsrespective end portions are connected to the table top 1 and the supportframe 21. The bottom side of a wheel frame 4 is furnished withbrake-provided castors 5 and the top side with ball housings 41, both asknown per se. The balls 42 of the ball housings 41 are placed in acircular groove 22 of the support frame 21 and form, together with thesupport frame 21, a slew ring bearing. A flange-resembling ring 23attached to the bottom side of the support frame 21 extends downward andpartially underneath the wheel frame 4 and is arranged to prevent thegroove 22 of the support frame 21 from being lifted up from the balls 42during, for example, table transport. On the diametrically opposite sideof the foot 3, relative to the centre of rotation 24 of the base 2, aplate-like balance weight 25 is placed within the base 2. In thiscontext, the balance weight 25 may consist of many components, and themass is adapted to a predetermined maximum weight that the table top 1can be loaded with while in the pulled-out position, see FIG. 2. Also,aesthetic considerations dictate that the base 2 be provided with acover plate 26 concealing the balance weight 25 and the support frame21. Furthermore, the base has dimensions greater than the wheel frame sothat the base covers the wheel frame in all rotary positions of thebase. A non-displayed cable may be fed from the bottom side of the base2 to its top side through two openings 27, 28, and to the top side ofthe table top 1 through an opening 36, the void of the telescopic tube32 and an opening 11.

The table is wheeled into the desired position on the castors 5. Whenregulating the height of the table top 1, a lever 35 is operated which,in a conventional manner, releases the air spring 34, such that thetelescopic tube 32 may be moved within the telescopic bearing 33. Thetable top 1 can revolve about the centre axis of the foot 3 and aboutthe axis 24 of the base 2, thus being arranged to assume within itsreach, any position in the horizontal plane. Upon applying loads withinallowable limits, the balance weight 25 prevents the table from tiltingwhile being in a pulled-out position, see FIG. 2.

1. A free-standing table device comprising: a horizontal wheel frame (4)supported on wheels (5); a horizontal base (2) including a support frame(21), the support frame (21) being coupled to said wheel frame to allowsaid base (2) to rotate in a horizontal plane with respect to said wheelframe, said base (2) having dimensions greater than the correspondingdimensions of said wheel frame so that said base covers said wheel frame(4) in all rotary positions of said base; a vertically extending tablefoot (3) connected to said base (2) proximate an edge of said base, saidtable foot defining a vertical axis in said table device; and ahorizontal table (1) connected to said table foot proximate to an edgeof said table, the table being rotatable about said vertical axis tomove said table to a desired position with respect to said base.
 2. Afree-standing table according to claim 1 further including a fixedweight (25) mounted on said base (2) at a portion of said base oppositethe edge proximate to which said table foot (3) is connected.
 3. Afree-standing table according to claim 2 wherein said base (2) andbalance weight (25) are covered with a cover plate.
 4. A free-standingtable according to claim 1 wherein said base and table foot includemeans for feeding an electrical equipment cable to said table.